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☆ France, Ukraine to Sign Security Deal Soon, French Foreign Minister Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By John IrishPARIS (Reuters) - France and Ukraine are soon likely to sign a bilateral agreement on security commitments, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to finalise a security deal in Ukraine this month, but he postponed the trip for security reasons. "A bilateral accord is in discussion and will be signed probably soon between the President Emmanuel Macron and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy," Sejourne told a hearing in parliament. According two diplomats aware of the talks, France would announce a 200-million-euro fund for civilian projects to be carried out by French companies. "In the coming days we will give numbers and give you transparency on the military and the civilian aid," Sejourne said.

Persons: John Irish PARIS, Stephane Sejourne, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Sejourne, Macron, John Irish, Mark Heinrich, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: French, NATO, Institute Locations: France, Ukraine, Germany, Paris, Kiel

☆ As U.S. Weighs Aid, Ukraine Turns to European Allies for Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Volodymyr Zelensky is redoubling his diplomatic outreach to Europe in the hopes of starting to fill the void left by months of American indecision, as the debate over providing renewed military assistance for Ukraine continues to play out in Washington. The aid package must still make it through the Republican-led House, where the speaker, Mike Johnson, said he would ignore it. “We hope that as a result of constructive debate and dialogue, the bill will also receive bipartisan support and be adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Olena Kondratyuk, the vice speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament. “We need this support to continue to fight for our freedom and independence. A clear message must also be sent to the aggressor country of Russia about the unity of the democratic world and the continued U.S. leadership in providing comprehensive assistance to Ukraine.”

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Mike Johnson, ”, Olena Kondratyuk Organizations: Republican, U.S . House, Representatives Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Washington, Ukrainian, Kyiv, U.S, Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

☆ Things are going badly for Ukraine — really badly
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewAs the second anniversary of Russia's unprovoked invasion approaches, the situation is beginning to look bleak for Ukraine. But the offensive failed to achieve a breakthrough, and Ukraine is now seeing crucial support from its allies bleed away. Ukraine has previously warned it may not be able to successfully defend itself against Russia without US help. The Senate on Tuesday passed a $95 billion emergency defense aid bill that could help Ukraine. According to reports, Ukraine is struggling to fight off Russian attacks, particularly around the city of Avdiivka, in Donetsk, east Ukraine.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Valerii Zaluzhny, Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, Ryan Evans, I'm, Patrick Bury, Michael Kofman, Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Fedorov, they've, Grant Shapps, That's, Basil Germond, Putin, Kofman, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson Organizations: Service, Business, Representatives, Bloomberg, CNN, Washington Post, UK's University of Bath, CNA Corporation, Associated Press, Reuters, Bury, Defense Intelligence, YouTube, UK's Defence, Black, Fleet, Lancaster University, Republican, Fox News, Ukraine, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Huliaipole, Russia, —, Zelenskyy, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Bury, Iran, North Korea, Al, NATO, Sevastopol, Crimea, Russian

☆ BlackRock is overhauling the way it advises powerful investors, from sovereign wealth funds to central banks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The shake-up targets the $10 trillion money manager's influential group that provides services to high-stakes institutional clients like sovereign wealth funds, insurers, and central banks. The group has ambitions to become "the most trusted advisor to financial institutions in our industry," he wrote. AdvertisementThe FSIG includes the firm's Financial Markets Advisory team and the Financial Institutions Group. It had also historically encompassed the Official Institutions Group, known as OIG, which will no longer be a stand-alone unit, a BlackRock spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. She has been critical to driving relationships with institutions and "instrumental in making BlackRock the partner of choice for central banks globally," he wrote.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Charles Hatami, BlackRock's, Hatami, Isabelle Mateos y, OIG, Mateos y, Crystal Wan, Olivier Van Eyseren, Anne Parthiot, Mark Erickson, Kimberly Kim, Erickson, Hiro Shimizu, Philipp Hildebrand, BlackRock's Brandon Hall, Brandon Hall, Ben Leax, Rob Goldstein, FMA, Larry Fink Organizations: Service, Business, BlackRock's Financial, Strategic Investors Group, Business Insider, Financial, Group, BlackRock, International Monetary Fund, FIG, EMEA, Presidential, Brandon Locations: Isabelle Mateos y Lago, Hatami, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Pacific, Ukraine, Central Asia, US

☆ Shakhtar Donetsk: Serhii Palkin was running the biggest soccer club in Ukraine. After war broke out, his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Ben Church | Martynas Ruseckas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

While he scrambled to keep his young family safe amid the near constant bombardment, Palkin also had the responsibility of looking after Ukraine’s most successful soccer club, Shakhtar Donetsk. Almost two years we have been in these kinds of conditions.”Palkin was named Shakhtar Donetsk’s CEO in 2004, taking charge of the most decorated club in Ukraine. In addition to its domestic dominance, the team regularly competes in the UEFA Champions League, alongside the biggest names of the sport. Since the conflict began, though, six people with direct ties to the club have died, according to Palkin. But many of those players, which the club had invested in before the war, left Shakhtar for free as a result of the ruling.

Persons: Palkin, ” Palkin, Milos Bicanski, didn’t, ”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he’s, it’s, Matteo Ciambelli, Fernandinho, FIFA’s, Mykhailo Mudryk, Marvin Ibo, GES Sportfoto Organizations: CNN, Shakhtar Donetsk, CNN Sport, Shakhtar Donetsk’s, UEFA Champions League, Soccer, country’s Premier League, ” Shakhtar, FC Barcelona, Champions League, Shakhtar, Getty, FIFA, Manchester City, Atlético Paranaense, Premier League, Sport, European, European Commission, English Premier League club Chelsea, Barcelona, “, ” Shakhtar Donetsk, Europa League, Marseille Locations: Russia, Ukraine, London, Kyiv, Europe, Germany, Donbas, Crimea, Russian, Brazil, Hamburg

☆ Former PM Alexander Stubb wins Finnish presidency, narrowly defeating ex-top diplomat Pekka Haavisto
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Haavisto conceded defeat after a projection by the Finnish public broadcaster YLE showing a win for Stubb was released Sunday night. "This has been a fair, great race," Stubb told Haavisto after the result was clear. Several polls indicated Stubb, who has also served as Finland's foreign, finance and European affairs minister, was the favorite to win the presidency. During the election campaign, Stubb and Haavisto largely agreed on Finland's foreign policy and security priorities. Haavisto was Finland's top diplomat in 2019-2023 and the main negotiator of its entry into NATO.

Persons: Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Haavisto, Stubb, Sauli Niinistö, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Nordic, NATO, National Coalition Party, YLE, Helsinki City Hall, Union, Washington, Kyiv, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, Finland, United States, Russia, China, Moscow, Europe

He served as mayor of Solo city, where he was born to a working-class family in illegally built shacks along a river, then became governor of the capital, Jakarta, before clinching his first presidential term. Widodo was the first Indonesian president to emerge outside the political and military elite. But critics say he thrived on political compromises, became beholden to political party supporters and accommodated ex-generals who served under the late authoritarian leader Suharto. Under Widodo, Indonesia saw a period of remarkable growth averaging 5% annually, except in 2020, when the economy contracted due to the coronavirus pandemic. His economic roadmap, called “Golden Indonesia 2045,” projects Indonesia becoming one of the world’s top five economies with GDP of up to $9 trillion, exactly a century after it won independence from Dutch colonizers.

Persons: Widodo —, Barack Obama —, Widodo, Suharto, Prabowo Subianto, ” Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo’s, —, Metallica, Subianto, we’ve, ”, Dwi Mustikarini, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Xi Jingping, Jim Gomez Organizations: White, Bloomberg Television, Associated Press Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Borneo, Southeast Asia, Solo, Jakarta, Surakarta, Central Java, Widodo's, New York, Widodo, Kyiv, Moscow, China

☆ Short on Soldiers, Ukraine Debates How to Find the Next Wave of Troops
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Soldiers fight in freezing, muddy trenches bombarded by artillery, or in warrens of burned and blown-up houses in urban combat. Casualty rates are high and dangerous missions, such as storming enemy-held tree lines, abound. In a tumultuous week for Ukraine’s war effort, President Volodymyr Zelensky removed his commanding general, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, on Thursday, while aid from the country’s largest source of weapons and ammunition, the United States, hung in doubt in Congress. While Ukraine relies on allies for weaponry, replenishing the ranks is a domestic challenge. Small protests have broken out in opposition to a Parliament proposal to expand the draft to include younger men, though so far, Parliament has slow-walked the measure.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Valery Zaluzhny Locations: United States, Ukraine

☆ Putin gets a propaganda opportunity as Congress dithers over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Zachary Wolf | Analysis Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

► Russian President Vladimir Putin was about to be isolated worldwide as a pariah. They also fact-check Carlson on his assertion that US media organizations have not tried to interview Putin. From their report:In fact, journalists have repeatedly been requesting interviews with Putin, but the Russian president had declined to grant access. Ukraine funding has run dryThe Pentagon has essentially exhausted the money Congress allocated for Ukraine over the past two years. In the Senate, there is support for Ukraine aid.

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, ► Elon Musk, Donald Trump, ► Putin, Carlson, Trump, Joe Biden, Putin, X Carlson, CNN’s Oliver Darcy, ”, Darcy, Alexei Navalny, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vadim Krasikov, CNN’s Nathan Hodge, Katharina Krebs, Helen Regan, Tucker Carlson's, CNN Putin, Webster, Volodymyr Zelensky, Valerii, Zelensky, Biden, autocrats, Sen, Rand Paul of, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: CNN, Fox News, unflappable, Twitter, Republicans, Republican, Pentagon, SpaceX, Putin, Street, Big Tech, Trump, Biden, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, bewilderment, US, Chechen, Berlin, Russian, West, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Merriam, Israel, Rand Paul of Kentucky

☆ US F-16s are exceeding the expectations of Ukraine's pilots, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian pilots training on US F-16s are "very impressed" with the fighter jets, a report said. The Ukrainian service of the Voice of America report cites a Ukrainian Air Force pilot. AdvertisementUkrainian pilots are "very impressed" with US F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian service of the Voice of America reported. It will still be several months before they see action against Russian forces, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said. AdvertisementDespite this, it noted that "the effort spent training Ukrainian pilots, ground crews, and logisticians to operate and maintain these aircraft will have long-term value."

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Grant Shapps, we're, Rustem Umerov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix Organizations: Ukrainian Air Force, US Air Force, Service, Air Force, Pentagon Press, Britain's Royal Air Force, UK Defence, Armed Forces, Ukraine's Defense, Russia, Russian, Getty, The Telegraph, US Air, AIM, Atlantic Council Locations: Europe, Denmark, Ukraine, AFP, Netherlands, Norway

☆ Russian forces push into Ukraine’s Avdiivka, piling pressure on new army chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Andrew Carey | Maria Kostenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Avdiivka, to the northwest of Donetsk city, remains the scene of some of the heaviest fighting as Russian forces continue their push from the north into the center of town. Even so, the DeepState mapping site suggests Russian forces are perhaps no more than several hundred meters away from the main supply route into town. Serhii Tsekhotskyi, an officer with the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, told Ukrainian television that Russia was deploying large numbers of troop into the battle for Avdiivka. Lying just a few kilometers north of Donetsk airport, captured by Russian forces in early 2015 after months of periodically heavy fighting, Avdiivka has been firmly in Moscow’s crosshairs ever since. East of Kupiansk and the Oskil river, along the northernmost stretch of the battle, an army spokesman told Ukrainian television on Saturday that Russian forces were pressing.

Persons: Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Serhii, “, ”, Boris Rozhin, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Moscow’s crosshairs, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chasiv Yar Organizations: CNN, Russian, Motorized Infantry Brigade, Avdiivka, Presidential Press Service, Reuters, Land Forces, Storm Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Donetsk, Russia, Avdiivka, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Kupiansk, Bakhmut

The Russian war machine is running at full tilt and has a much larger pool of men to draw from than Ukraine to replenish its ranks. Zelensky said he and Zaluzhnyi had a “frank discussion about what needs to be changed in the army. Frontline units in several vulnerable areas told CNN in recent weeks that they were often chronically short of ammunition, particularly Western 155mm artillery shells. The Russian military continues to make mistakes, but it is learning and adapting, especially in the exploitation of attack and reconnaissance drones and electronic warfare. The Russian military has also exploited glide technology to deliver aerial bombs more accurately, one reason that the Ukrainian offensive in the south faltered last summer.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, Zelensky, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, ”, Matthew Schmidt, ” Schmidt, Frontlines, Diego Herrera Carcedo, “, Kyrylo Budanov, Schmidt, Vadim Ghirda, Dmytro Kuleba, Budanov, Valerie Zaluzhnyi, ’, Serhii Naiev, Zaluzhnyi’s, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Mick Ryan, –, Zaporizhzhia, Maxym, it’s Organizations: CNN, Presidential Press Service, Reuters, International Affairs, University of New, Getty, Ukrainian Military Intelligence, Biden, EU, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine Gold Star, Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, Ukraine’s Joint Forces, St, Budanov, Security Service, US Naval Institute ., Hungary Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Russian, Ukraine, Kupiansk, University of New Haven , Connecticut, Avdiivka, Anadolu, Zelensky, St Petersburg, Volgograd, Crimea, ”, US Naval Institute . Ukraine, Australian, Ukrainian

☆ Putin, in rare U.S. interview, says Russia has no interest in attacking Poland or Latvia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 22, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview that aired on Thursday that Russia will fight for its interests but has no interest in expanding its war in Ukraine to other countries such as Poland and Latvia. Asked if he could imagine a scenario in which he would send Russian troops to Poland, a NATO member. Putin replied:"Only in one case, if Poland attacks Russia. He began with lengthy remarks about Russia's relations with Ukraine, Poland and other countries.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy Organizations: Security, Kremlin, NATO, tuckercarlson.com, Fox News, Republican Party Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, American

☆ Ukraine Has a New Military Commander but the Problems Haven’t Changed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Marc Santora | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russian forces are razing the already battered city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine to the ground and sending waves of assault units to overwhelm outgunned Ukrainian troops. After months of brutal fighting, the Russian military is threatening to cut off a vital supply line to the city, which could render further defense impossible. It is a bloody equation that General Syrsky has had to try to work out many times as the commander of ground forces in eastern Ukraine, and it is one that critics — including American military officials — contend he has not always gotten right, particularly in the battle for Bakhmut. Assessing that strategy will be only part of the “renewal” that President Volodymyr Zelensky said was necessary when he dismissed his commanding general, Valery Zaluzhny, on Thursday and named General Syrsky to replace him. Mr. Zelensky also named five generals and two colonels he intends to promote as part of the sweeping overhaul.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrsky, —, Syrsky, Volodymyr Zelensky, Valery Zaluzhny, Zelensky Organizations: Bakhmut Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine

☆ UAE Says Mediation Efforts Led to Russia, Ukraine Swap of 100 Prisoners Each
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said it succeeded in mediating the release of 100 Russian prisoners of war in exchange for 100 war prisoners from the Ukrainian side. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, noted the UAE's "humanitarian mediation", as did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian body overseeing exchanges of POWs. The UAE's foreign ministry said it is the third mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine this year adding that it is calling for diplomacy, dialogue, and de-escalation, state news agency WAM reported. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Kim Coghill)War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 Images

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, WAM, Nayera Abdallah, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, United Arab, Russia's Defence Ministry Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskyy takes one of his 'biggest gambles' yet by replacing top military commander
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | Www.Linkedin.Com In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thought to have taken one of his "biggest gambles" yet by replacing his top commander in a dramatic military shake-up. Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, one of Ukraine's most experienced commanders who had led the country's ground forces since 2019, was on Thursday appointed the new head of Ukraine's armed forces amid broader military leadership changes. It represents the most significant change to Ukraine's military leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country nearly two years ago. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy said he had taken the decision "to renew the leadership" of Ukraine's armed forces and thanked Zaluzhnyi for his two years of service. Urgent change," Zelenskyy said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Land Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, Andriy Yermak, Kharkiv Region Oleg Sinegubov, Metin, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Valeriy, Zelenskyy, Zaluzhnyi, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Oksana Parafeniuk, Zelenskky, Zaluzhny, Peter Dickinson, Genya Savilov, Dickinson Organizations: Ukrainian Land Forces, Presidential, Military Administration, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Armed Forces, Staff of, Armed Forces of, Washington Post, Russia, Economist, Atlantic Council, Afp Locations: Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Kharkiv Region, Zelenskyy, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv, Zelenskky, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk

Senators conducted a late-night vote Friday, advancing to next steps as they spin through objections from a core group of Republicans. More closely aligned with Donald Trump, the GOP's presidential front-runner, the Republican senators aren't putting a priority on stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. Attendance slipped Friday night as senators advanced the bill, 64-19, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to move it forward. "The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, not to support Ukraine, is close to criminal neglect,” Biden said. In a key vote Thursday, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill — but 31 voted against it.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, aren't, Vladimir Putin's, Chuck Schumer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, ” Biden, Olaf Scholz, Trump, ” Sen, Mike Lee, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, Sen, Dan Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Senators groused, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Netanyahu, “, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Republican, New York Democrat, Republicans, Democrats, Ukraine, White, United States Congress, GOP, Capitol, Senators, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Israel, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, China, Gaza, Central, United States, Utah, Alaska, Rafah, “, Vermont, Maryland, Washington

☆ Putin references Russian hitman in German jail as he suggests ‘agreement can be reached’ on detained US reporter Gershkovich
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Nathan Hodge | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested “an agreement can be reached” with the United States to release detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich, as he brought up the conviction of a “patriotic” Russian hitman in Germany. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested last March while on a reporting trip in the country. When Putin said Gershkovich was working with US special services, Carlson did push the Russian president, saying: “This guy is obviously not a spy, he’s a kid. In fact, journalists have repeatedly been requesting interviews with Putin, but the Russian President had declined to grant access. The Russian President suggested that the path to ending the war in Ukraine was through direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Evan Gershkovich, Tucker Carlson, Putin’s, Carlson, Putin, “, ” Putin, ”, Natalia Kolesnikova, Gershkovich’s, “ He’s, Evan, ” Danielle Gershkovich, Biden, Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, He’s, Vadim Krasikov, Krasikov, Viktor Bout, Brittney Griner, Whelan, “ Evan, ” “ Evan, “ We’re, Viktor Orbán, Javier Milei, Volodymyr Zelensky, “ Putin, railroaded Tucker Carlson, Jill Dougherty, Dougherty, Armin Wolf, Joe Biden, Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Street Journal, Federal Security Service, Novosti, US State Department, Getty, White, Russian, Street, Big Tech, International Criminal Court, Rights Watch, Russia’s, Kremlin, NATO, Republicans Locations: United States, American, Russian, Germany, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia, US, AFP, Berlin, Chechen, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Austrian, Washington, Poland, Belarus, Israel

☆ A new top commander is replacing Ukraine's 'Iron General,' and he's taking the job at a tough time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Zelenskyy has replaced his top general, Zaluzhny. AdvertisementUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially replaced his top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, after rumors and reports that the "Iron General" was on his way out. He's taking the job at a challenging time for the Ukrainian armed forces. Zelenskyy said he had "dozens of conversations with commanders at various levels" that are "all being considered for army leadership positions." We are all proud of our army and we must do everything in our power to ensure that the Ukrainian army becomes a victorious army."

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Valery Zaluzhny, Gen, Oleksandr Syrsky, He's, Syrsky, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Zaluzhny, Bakhmut Organizations: Service, Getty, Armed Forces of Locations: Ukraine, Syrsky, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Bakhmut, Zaluzhny, Russia, Donetsk oblast, Anadolu, West, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ A Ukrainian commander said his unit is desperately short on soldiers: 40 infantry troops doing the fighting of 200
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Ukrainian commander said his unit has less than 40 infantry troops, but should have more than 200. Another commander told the Washington Post said his unit was similarly short of fighters. AdvertisementA Ukrainian battalion commander said his frontline unit has fewer than 40 infantry soldiers, a small fraction of what it should have. Another commander, in a separate infantry brigade, told the Post said his unit was similarly short of fighters. AdvertisementOleksandr, another battalion commander, told the Post that his battalion had only been sent five new soldiers in the past five months, not including those who returned after being injured.

Persons: —, Oleksandr, Valery Zaluzhny, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zaluzhny, Zelenskyy, Vladimir, Joe Biden Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Post, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine's

☆ Zelensky Removes His Top General, in Major Shake-Up of Ukraine Military
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on Thursday he had removed his top general in the most significant leadership shake-up since Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. While praising Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the commander who has led the nation’s war effort for two years, Mr. Zelensky said “urgent changes” were needed to ensure victory. “Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Mr. Zelensky said in an evening address to the nation, adding the he had met with General Zaluzhny and thanked him for his service. General Zaluzhny will be replaced by Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, the head of Ukraine’s ground forces, the president said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Gen, Valery Zaluzhny, Zelensky, ” Mr, General Zaluzhny, Oleksandr Syrsky Organizations: Armed Forces of Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin used an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to urge Washington to recognize Moscow's interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks. Most of the interview, released Thursday, focused on Ukraine, where the war is nearing the two-year mark. It was Putin’s first interview with a Western media figure since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Two journalists working for U.S. news organizations — The Wall Street Journal’s Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Alsu Kurmasheva — are in jail. Asked by Carlson whether Russia would release Gershkovich, Putin said Moscow is open to talks but repeated that the reporter was charged with espionage, an accusation Gershkovich has denied.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, Putin, Evan Gershkovich, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, “, ” Putin, John Kirby, Carlson, Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Krasikov, We’re, Evan Organizations: Fox News, NATO, Ukrainian, Kremlin, Kyiv, Putin, House, Radio Free, Street Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Germany, Poland, Radio Free Europe, U.S, Russian, Caucasus

CNN —Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that the released prisoners had returned to Ukraine. Last week, Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in what the Ukrainian government called the “second major exchange after a long break.”It was the first exchange since the mysterious crash of a Russian IL-76 plane on January 24 in Russia’s Belgorod region, which neighbors eastern Ukraine. Moscow claimed the plane was transporting dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war, while Kyiv said it was carrying Russian missiles to be used in further strikes on Ukraine. Zelensky said 207 Ukrainian service members were returned on Wednesday, while the Russian Defense Ministry said 195 Russian military personnel had been received.

Persons: KSHPPV, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian Armed Forces, United Arab Emirates, Russian Ministry of Defence, Russian Air Force, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, Russia’s Belgorod, Moscow, Kyiv

☆ Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine’s top general in shake-up of military leadership
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Yuliya Talmazan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

He added that he had appointed Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, to lead the army. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that he had replaced his top general, a dramatic shake-up of the country's military at a crucial moment in its war against Russia . A popular figure who came to embody Ukraine's fighting spirit, Zaluzhnyi is widely respected both at home and abroad. Zelenskyy appeared to have been caught off guard by Zaluzhnyi's comments and denied that the war was, in fact, at a stalemate. A career soldier, Zaluzhnyi, 50, and Zelenskyy have emerged as the top leaders in wartime Ukraine.

Persons: Zaluzhnyi, he'd, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskyy, Zaluzhny, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Kyiv's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii, quagmire, Zaluzhnyi's Organizations: Armed Forces, Russia, Ukraine's, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Dnipro, United States, Russia, West

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